Ten years. It is both a short time and a long one. Short, when viewed against the long horizon of law and institutions. Long, when we remember where we started. A law firm launched in 2016 with a simple conviction: that business law could be practiced differently, by staying close to the economic realities of the people we advise.
The early years were years of building. Building a client base, earning a reputation, learning to say no to certain matters in order to devote ourselves more fully to others. Very quickly, one choice became clear. Rather than trying to do everything, we would focus on the areas where we could bring genuine value. Corporate law and transactions, tax law, and later digital technologies and digital assets—at a time when few lawyers in French-speaking Switzerland were taking these subjects seriously. That early commitment to blockchain and crypto-assets remains one of the elements that sets us apart today.
The next stage was the development of our Franco-Swiss practice, with a presence in Neuchâtel and Paris. Supporting matters that cross borders requires mastering two legal cultures, two ways of thinking, and creating a bridge between them for clients who ultimately want only one thing: to move forward with confidence in their projects.
It would be dishonest to describe these ten years as a smooth and uninterrupted journey. The practice of business law is demanding. High-stakes matters are demanding by definition. They involve significant economic interests, often unfold under considerable time pressure, and leave little room for error. Added to this is an environment that never stands still: regulations evolve, tax systems become more complex, and technologies require constant learning. Remaining relevant demands a continuous effort to stay current, as well as a certain humility—the humility to recognize what we do not yet know and to go out and learn it.
Yet the most tangible challenge is also the simplest. Behind every matter are people, businesses, and sometimes the work of a lifetime. The responsibility that comes with this does not diminish with experience. If anything, it is what ultimately gives meaning to our profession.
If we are still here ten years later, it is thanks to the people who have made Leax what it is. The team of today, and all those who have been part of the firm and left their mark on it. Our clients, who have entrusted us with important decisions and placed a confidence in us that we never take for granted. Our partners, with whom we build lasting relationships. None of this journey belongs solely to us.
It is for them, and with them, that we approach the decade ahead. Our new visual identity and redesigned website are the first signs of what is to come. The rest will be written as the first ten years were—one matter at a time, with dedication, rigor, and enthusiasm.
